Spirit Up

Welcome to the Spirit-Up eConnection Newsletter
Written by Dr. Cindy Flor
Author of The Affirmative Journal
www.cindyflor.com


May 1, 2003

1. Something to think about: "You will either step forward into growth or you will step back into safety. Abraham Maslow All of us are in the process of growth whether we realize it or not. But I have discovered that if we stop the growth or the safety, the universe steps in and we end up creating a train-wreck for ourselves. What motivates you in your life?

2. These last months have brought some interesting changes into my life. As most of you know, I made the decision to move from the Bay area in California to San Antonio, Texas, to be closer to my beloved "heart" sister. I didn't realize what all that was going to entail in my life. One of my teachers, John Maxwell, says that "No change is impossible. Some change is impractical. Most change is uncomfortable. Every change has consequences." I was fortunate in being hired by the San Antonio Religious Science church and so that solidified my decision to move.

Finding the "right" house in San Antonio was an adventure in patience. I think I viewed all of the houses classified as "what could they have been thinking to put that room in here?" to the house we eventually bought that was the first just "normal" house I saw. Even though I knew intellectually that all would work out, there were times this month while waiting for escrow to close that I ran the roller coaster of emotional highs and lows and exhilarated, anticipated patience.

Through out this process, I remember a quote I have in my files that says, "People don't change because they see the light. They change because they feel the heat." In my case, I was getting very uncomfortable and really missing my sister. Since she just completed building her dream house, I knew that I was going to have to make the move to get closer to her.

All of the changes I have made willingly have turned out to be the highest and best for me. I really want to remember to always "step forward into growth."

Have many blessed changes.
Always.
Dr. Cindy

3. The best of Ernest Holmes: We should think of our lives as increasing awareness, an ever-growing and expanding consciousness, a never-ceasing progress of individual and collective evolution, an enthusiastic sense of adventure in the progressive unfoldment of spiritual awareness.

4. Please feel free to share this newsletter with everyone on your mailing list. The value you receive may assist someone else in their spiritual discovery journey.

Welcome to the Spirit-Up eConnection Newsletter
Written by Dr. Cindy Flor
Author of The Affirmative Journal
www.cindyflor.com

March 19, 2003

1. Something to think about: All of us at some time or another have been called to do something that takes us out of our realm of being. "The purpose of calls," according to Gregg Levoy, author of Callings, Finding and Following an Authentic Life,"is to summon adherents away from their daily grinds to a new level of awareness, into a sacred frame of mind, into communion with that which is bigger than themselves." He goes on to say that, "Saying yes to these calls tends to place you on a path that half of yourself thinks doesn't make a bit of sense, but hte other half knows your life won't make sense without. Calls are essentially questions. They aren't questions you necessarily need to answer outright; they are questions to which you need to respond, expose yourself and kneel before."

2. Recently at a combined minister's conference of Religious Science Ministers - both United and International - one of the guest speakers was Gregg Levoy. He spent the afternoon with us asking us questions about what was going on in our lives and what we were doing about them. I was so moved and impressed with some of the questions that I am going to share them with you in hopes that they will impact your lives as well. The questions are meant for "soul tenders and keepers." He is big on telling stories because if we don't keep telling the stories we will die in the soul sense. Most of us will not allow the story to come out of us for reasons only we know.

Many of us have experienced the joys of our calling. In fact, I can't imagine what my life would be like without doing what it is that I do. So, for those of you who have been living your calling, here is the next stage of it according to the questions Gregg gave us at the conference.



What is the next step in the calling?

1. What did you like best about the one calling that has taken you in the direction that you are headed?
2. What is right for you and where are you willing to be led?
3. If someone had told you years ago that you would be doing __________, you would have told them they were crazy. Is there some direction that you are being led toward or called to that defines the next stage of you life?
4. The big affirmation ­ what Is It? Define that yearning within.
5. What problem were you born to understand?
6. What have you been avoiding in your life?
7. Name two mentors in your life who have kept you going in the direction
you are moving. Why have they been important to you?
8. If you had one hour of prime time television, what would you have to say?
9. What would your work look like with the volume turned up?
10. What decision needs to be made right now?
11. What Important thing is missing in your life right now?
12. To strengthen the body, it needs to be shaken up, some chaos needs to be injected. What does your body need?
13. You have carefully avoided something in your life but it keeps following you and is determined to claim you. What is it?
14. Most people will not pursue a high call until it becomes obnoxious. What pattern are you sick of in your life? If it were turned around, what would that be?
15. What story is begging to come out of your mouth?
16. What are the consequences of not tuning into your calling?
17. Symptoms are usually dreams trying to come true. Name a recurring symptom in your body. Give it a voice.
18. Dreams are a powerful force of life. What unlived dreams are you fulfilling for your parents? It is the impossible task of a hand-me-down
life. What effect has it had on you?
19. Name three people who have assisted you in getting you to where you are right now. Write down why they are important and how they assisted you.
How are you going to pass on the legacy?
20. Warning: Dates in your calendar are closer than they appear. Contemplate your death ­ what really matters to you? What do you dream about? What has been left undone? What do you regret in your life? Can you still do something about it?
21. Sometimes your tenacity can pull you under. What is your preferred method of space and time for soul renewal? When was the last time you took the time for soul renewal? When you did take the time, what changes did you notice about your life?
22. What is the most constant, persistent urging or prompting you have in your head that you want to have happen in your life? When are you going to act on it? If you don¹t, what will the consequences be?

Get out your journals and get busy. Allow the spiritual discovery to be magical for you.

Remember, you are always

God Blessed,
Dr. Cindy

3. The best of Ernest Holmes: Whatever we identify ourselves with we tend to become. Whatever we think about gradually becomes a subconscious patter, always tending to manifest itself in our experience. Therefore, we should endeavor to identify our bodies with the spiritual Reality which is the very substance and essence of the physical being.

4. Please feel free to share this newsletter with everyone on your mailing list. The value you receive may assist someone else in their spiritual discovery journey.

Welcome to the Spirit-Up eConnection Newsletter
Written by Dr. Cindy Flor
Author of The Affirmative Journal
www.cindyflor.com

February, 2003

1. Something to think about: Self-reliance is not only the belief that you can handle things and become successful. It's something more than that. It includes having the courage to listen to your talents for a hint of the kind of success you should want. It means taking your cue form what you are - not listening to something outside yourself to get an idea of what you should become. When we follow the kind of life that our talents and our temperament tell us to follow we are happy and we are successful. We are ourselves and we are strong. William E. Edwards

2. I have recently been giving a lot of thought to the idea of self-reliance and how to create more of it in my life. Imagine my surprise when I found a statement that said, "to increase your self-reliance keep the promises you make to yourself." How many times do we break the promises to ourselves and keep the ones to absolute strangers? Self-reliance begins with self-confidence. A technique in building self-confidence is 1. Make a special promise to yourself. 2. Write down that promise. 3. Carry it out for ten days. Sounds simple? Self-reliance comes when you find you have the will power and when you can rely on yourself not to take easiest path but the path that will gain the most for you as an end result. The more you can rely on yourself, the more you will be able to accomplish. The more you accomplish, the more confidence you have in yourself. That leads to self-reliance. Keep your promise and it builds confidence fast - break your promise and it weakens your self-confidence and self-esteem. What is interesting about this process is that when we lack faith in ourselves, we still feel that we must place our faith in something. When we can't have faith in ourselves, we place it somewhere else. And the thing in which many of us place our faith - without ever realizing it - is fear. I love relishing in the fact that I can rely on me - no matter what and more so now that I know I can keep a promise especially to myself. This has been a fun process for me and I invite you to share in it.

3. The Best of Ernest Holmes: Realizing that all action starts in, and is a result of, consciousness, prepare your mind to receive the best that life has to offer. Become increasingly aware of the One Presence, the One Life, and the One Spirit which is God.

Welcome to the Spirit-Up eConnection Newsletter
Written and Published by The Church for Today
2118 Hayes Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
415-831-9437
www.churchfortoday.org

Saturday, November 9, 2002

1. Something to think about: The hourglass symbolizes the fluid nature of time. As you watch the sand pouring from the upper chamber to the lower, meditate on the moment. Time is just nature’s method of preventing everything from happening at once. The way to wholeness is to embrace and treasure the moment...as it flies.

2. I remember telling you last July and I had fulfilled a dream that I had for a long time. I bought a flute. This week I had another dream come true. I got a bass flute.
Two years ago at Asilomar, I took a class and as an opening meditation, the leader asked us to close our eyes and just “flow” with the music. She played a bass flute. I had never heard or seen one before. It was glorious. Speaking to her after the class, she talked about how hard they were to find and if you did, they were very expensive. Well, the seed was planted.
Last Christmas it was rekindled. During the day, the television was playing on a channel that had just Christmas music playing. Program after program was filled with orchestras playing. One had a flute section – they were all bass flutes. Imagine! They were featured several times during that segment. I was glued to the television.
After talking about the bass flute in church one Sunday, one of the congregants came up and told me he had two of them that his Father had bought years ago. I told him I wanted one of them. He said that they had been appraised at $22,000.00 and did I have that kind of money. I laughed and said no. How rare are they when he had two of them in his possession? I let it go knowing that God would find a way for me to have one somewhere, sometime.
Over the last two years, this congregant’s wife has been ill and periodically I would call and talk to him about her – never mentioning the flutes. Until two weeks ago, he relented. In the process, I received not only a bass flute but a G flute as well and apparently as rare as a bass flute.
Remember Ernest Holmes talking about “a clear stream of consciousness?” I am here to tell you that it works. I have had another experience of God in my life and it is wonderful. I am having a great time with my new bass flute. I will be in a flute trio at Christmas during the Sunday service. Come and hear us.
Our theme for November and December is “Just Imagine... ,” complete with homework assignments such as:

Write out 101 goals.
List all of the things you can do.
List all of the things you have accomplished in your life.
What are you really proud of in your life?
What thrills you the most?
What in your life do you need to “Just Imagine...?”

Get out your journal and a pen and get busy. Time is flying.

3. The Best of Ernest Holmes: A good practice is to sit and realize that you are the center of Divine attraction, that all things are coming to you, that the power within is going out and drawing back all that you will ever need. Declare that all life, all love and power is in your life. Declare that you are now in the midst of plenty. Stick to it even though you may not yet see the result. It will work and those who belive the most will get the most. Think of the Law as your friend, always looking out for your interest. Trust completely in it and it will bring your good to you.

4. For your consideration: On December 7, 2002, the Church for Today will be hosting a Holiday Bazaar. There will be gifts items, jewelry, photographs, art work and Christmas cards for sale. We will be having some wonderful raffle items as well. Won’t you join us and enjoy some apple cider while shopping?

Welcome to the Spirit Up eConnection Newsletter
Written and Published by The Church for Today
2118 Hayes Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
www.churchfortoday.org
Tuesday, October 8, 2002

1. Something to think about: All that God is, is now in action through me. Infinite Spirit fills me, Infinite Love surrounds me, Infinite Mind directs me. God's thoughts are my thoughts. The Law of Mind produces my word into form right now. I declare that I am a perfect expression of God, and only God's thoughts function in me this day. Richer Living

2. I recently read an article that suggested we focus on living a quality life.
Since then, this issue of "quality" has been circulating in my thoughts and I keep thinking how what it is that I am doing or thinking is contributing to the "quality of my life." Using "quality" as a basis for what is going on in life allows me to step into a richer life style and I can see how it will assist me in creating a more fulfilling life.
Quality fits into everything. Is the food I am eating quality? How well am I taking care of myself? Do the clothes I wear reflect the quality I want to express? Do they make me feel comfortable and at ease? Does the order and harmony I experience at home and in the office reflect this quality? Do I treat myself with quality?
"Commit yourself to living a quality life. Put all the energy, emphasis, and willpower to increasing the quality of your life. Take advantage of all that is offered to you today - as long as it's legal, moral, and appeals to your best self. Don't miss a chance to experience beauty or have an adventure. Fill yourself with wonder so you don't have to fill yourself with so much dinner {or other choice of drugs}. You deserve a quality life." Victoria Moran
I believe that it is not what we have but what we enjoy that attributes to our level of abundant consciousness. Real riches are in our hearts and how we view that is going on around us. True fulfillment comes with the appreciation of what we already have.
Jack Canfield tells us that, "Quality is not an art. It is a habit." What a glorious habit to acquire.
Remember you are truly God Blessed. In great affection, Dr. Cindy

3. From the best of Ernest Holmes: The only way to know God is to be like God; and while this may seem discouraging in our present state of evolution, we should remember that we have but started on an eternal ladder that ever spirals upward. SOM 443

4. For your consideration: I truly feel that my life has been blessed as a result of finding Religious Science. All that I am enjoying today is a result of putting God into my life and into my actions. Assist someone along their spiritual path by suggesting that they too may solve their problems in order to live a higher quality life by inviting them to church with you or introducing them to This Thing Called You or Creative Mind and Success by Ernest Holmes. Someone cared enough to tell you...pass it on.

Welcome to the Spirit-Up eConnection Newsletter
Written and Published by the Church for Today
2118 Hayes Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
415-831-9437
www.churchfortoday.org
Saturday, August 10, 2002